Billfold



June 26, 1934. P. A. GARDNER, JR Q 1,964,461

BILLFOLD 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 12,3 3

- Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to billfolds; and it has particular reference to billfolds of an improved type in which a sliding panel extends into longitudinally spaced pockets for cooperation with the inner walls of said pockets and with an outer wall to form an elongated bill compartment and in which the longitudinally spaced pockets are of novel construction and arrangement, the walls thereof being held in assembled relationship by 0 improved connections dispensing with the use of exposed or visible stitches or fasteners.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved billfold comprising an outer wall having wall elements in connection with its end and lower longitudinal edges, and said wall elements having wall members in connection with their upper longitudinal edges extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall and cooperating with said wall elements to form inwardly open spaced pockets, the lower marginal portions of said wall members and said wall elements being connected together for any desired portion of their length by concealed fastening means, in combination with a panel extending into said spaced pockets and terminating short of the outer ends thereof and held therein by a flexible connection in at least one of said pockets extending from the end of said panel to the end of the pocket and attached to the outer end of the adjacent wall member.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved billfold of the type and character mentioned and either including therein or omitting therefrom an elongated partition mounted in the compartment provided at the inner side of the outer wall and having its ends spaced from the outer ends of said compartment and unattached to the outer wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved concealed fastening means for holding the partition in the compartment in which it is located, said concealed fastening means being at the bottom of the compartment and covered by the walls forming the inwardly open pockets.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank designed and 53 adapted to be folded into proper relationship to cooperate with a sliding panel and with an elongated partition to provide the bill compartment or compartments and the several spaced pockets.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a partition member 55 for cooperation with the blank shown in Fig. 1

outer wall or with the partition to form an elongated compartment.

Fig. 4 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a billfold constructed in accordance with this invention, one of the tabs being extended and unattached to the cooperating wall element.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view approximately on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are transverse sectional views on the line 7-9 of Fig 4, showing variations in the construction of a billfold made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the billfold taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment shown, the unitary device is utilized to form many of the walls of the billfold. This unitary device is in the form of a blank, as shown in Fig. 1, and is made of leather, or other appropriate flexible material.

The blank shown comprises an outer wall 1, wall elements 2 and 3 integrally connected with spaced edge portions of the wall 1, wall forming tabs 4 and 5 in connection with the spaced edge portions of the wall 1 at right angles to the edge portions with which the wall elements 2 and 3 are connected; and wall members 6 and 7 formed in connection with the upper edges of ,the elements 2 and 3.

The wall elements are folded over toward each other parallel with the wall 1 and the wall members 6 and 7 are folded and extended downwardly between the outer wall 1 and the wall elements 2 and 3 to positions to cooperate with said wall elements 2 and 3 to form inwardly open pockets closed at their upper sides by the connections uniting the wall elements 2 and 3 with the respective wall members 6 and 7.

The lower sides of these inwardly. open pockets formed-between the wall elements 2 and 3 and i the wall members 6 and 7 are closed by the wall forming tabs 4 and 5, respectively, which are folded against the outer sides of the wall elements 2 and 3. The wall forming tab 4 is connected with the wall element 2 by tongues 8 in connection with the ends of the tab 4 and extended through spaced slits 9 in the wall element 2. And the wall forming tab 5 is similarly folded appropriate fastening means.

A panel 13 of flexible and pliable material bridges the space between the inwardly open pockets, one ofwhich is formed by the element 2 and the cooperating wall member 6 and the other of which is formed by the wall element 3 and the cooperating wall member 7. The ends of this panel 13 do not extend to the outer ends of said pockets butterminate a substantial distance'therefrom. T0 at least one end of the panel 13 a section 14 of material characterized by a greater degree of flexibility and pliability than the panel 13, is attached by stitches 15, or. other appropriate fastening means. The section 14 and the stitches 15 are wholly confined in the pocket in which they are located and are rendered invisible by the walls of said pocket. The outer end of the section 14 is attached to the outer end of the adjacent wall member 6 or '7 by stitches 16, or other appropriate fastening means, and is otherwise unattached to any other part of the billfold. The opposite end of the panel 13 may be attached to a similar section 17 of flexible and pliable material by stitches 18, or other fastening means, and the outer end of said section 17 may be attached to the outer end of the adjacent wall member 6 or '1 by stitches 19, or other fastening means.

The upper and lower edges of the panel 13 have in connection therewith narrow extensions 20 and 21 which are folded against the upper and lower marginal portions of the panel 13 on the side toward the wall 1 to provide a finished appearance and effect.

, A partition 22 of leather, or other appropriate flexible and pliable material, may be located in the compartment provided between the outer wall 1 and the inner wall consisting of the wall members 6 and 'l and the panel 13. This partition does not extend the full length of said compartment but has its ends terminating at a distance from the ends of said compartment. The

upper edge of this partition may be formed with an extension 23 designed and adapted to be folded downwardly on and secured to that side of the partition that is toward the outer wall 1 in order to provide a finished appearance along the upper marginal portion of the partition.

This partition 22 may be attached to one of the wall members 6 or '1 or to both, as desired. There are many ways in which said attachment of the partition to these wall members may be effected As shown, the lower marginal edge of the partition 22 is provided with spaced extended portions 24 separated by a space equal to or in excess of the space between the inner ends of the wall members 6 and '1. These spaced extended portions 24 of the partition 22 may be extended below the lower edges of the wall members 6 and "l and upwardly between said wall members 6 and '7 and the corresponding wall elements 2 and 3 and engaged bythe fasteners 12. This leaves the end portion of the partition 22 beyond the outer ends of the extensions 24 unattached to any portion of the billfold.

Obviously the wall forming tabs 4 and 5, which up against the outer side of the wallelement 3 have their lower portions extending the full length of the corresponding rows of stitches 12, completely cover and render said rows of stitches invisible. The inner and outer marginal portions of the tabs 4 and 5 below the tongues 8 and 10' may be attached to the wall elements 2 and 3 by glue, or other appropriate fastening means, thus providing upwardly open pockets between said wall forming tabs and the corresponding wall elements 2 and 3, the ends of said pockets being closed by the connecting means securing the tabs 4 and 5 to the wall elements 2 and 3 and comprising the tongues 8 and 10 and the glue, or other fastening means mentioned. Or the said marginal portions of the tabs 4 and 5, or either of them, may be left unattached to the wall elements 2 and 3.

A finishing extension 25 along the upper edge of the outer wall member is folded downwardly against and attached to the under side thereof, and a finishing extension 26 on the lower edge of the outer wall member is folded upwardly and attached to the under side thereof between the inner ends of the inwardly open pockets.

A lining or facing 27 may be secured to the inner surface of the wall elements 2 and 3 to cover the inwardly extended tongues 8 and 10 and to prevent articles from becoming engaged or entangled with said tongues when the articles are inserted or withdrawn from the pockets between the wall elements 2 and 3 and the panel 13.

By this construction and arrangement, an improved billfold having the different wall elements thereof securely united and including invisible stitches and invisible fastening means uniting certain of said parts is provided. These invisible stitches or fastening means prevent the removal or detachment of the partition 22 and the panel 13 and hold said partition and panel in cooperative relationship with each other and the remaining walls of the billfold without in the least interfering with the flexibility and pliability of said walls. Further, by this construction there will be no buckling of the panel 13 or the partition 22 when the billfold is' folded, irrespective 9 of the amount of the contents of the billfold. This is because there is maintained an appropriate sliding effect and connection preventing this buckling,

The construction and arrangement of this billfold may be varied otherwise than in the particulars mentioned, and it is even possible and within the scope of the invention to employ a partition, such as the partition 22, without attaching the same to any part of the billfold. This construction is easily obtainable by leaving the partition unattached or disengaged by the stitches 12 or other fastening means securing the lower edges of the wall elements 2 and 3 to the lower edges of the corresponding wall members 6 and 7.

I claim:

1. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an elongated outer wall and to provide spaced wall elements in connection with the lower longitudinal and end edges of said outer wall, spaced wall members in connection with the upper edges of said elements extending downwardly between said elements and said outer wall-and having 4 i to 1,904,461 distance from the outer ends of said pockets, and

a section of flexible and pliable material connecting at least one end of said panel with the outer end of the adjacent wall' member and otherwise unattached to the blllfold. 2. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to. provide an elongated outer wall and to provide spaced wall elements in connection with the lower longitudinal and end edges of said outer wall, spaced wall members in connection with the upper edges of said elements extending downwardly between said elements and said outer wall and having their lower edges connected with the lower edges of said wall elements and unattached to said outer wall, said wall elements and wall members forming spaced inwardly open pockets, a panel bridging the space between and extending into said pockets and having its ends terminating at a distance from the outer ends of said pockets, a section of flexible and pliable material connectin at least one end of said panel with the outer end of the adjacent wall member and otherwise unattached to the blllfold, and a partition located between said outerwall and said w'all members and having its lower edge connected with the lower edge of at least one of said wall members.

' 3. A blllfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an elongated outer wall and to providespaced wall elements in connection with the lower longitudinal and end edges of said outer wall, spaced wall members in connection with the upper edges of said elements extending downwardly between said elements and said outer wall and having their lower edges connected with the lower edges of said wall elements and unattached to said outer wall, said wall elements and wall members forming spaced inwardly open pockets, a panel bridging the space between and extending into said pockets and having its-ends terminating at a distance from the outer ends of said pockets, a section of flexible and pliable material con necting atleast one end of said panel with the outer end of the adjacent wall member and otherwise unattached to the blllfold, and a partition located between said outer-wall and said wall members and having its lower edge connected with the lower edge of at least one of said wall members and having its ends and end portions of its lower longitudinal edge unattached to any part of the blllfold. 4 4. A blllfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an outer wall and inwardly extended wall elements in connection with the outer ends of said outer wall and downwardly extended wall members in connection with the upper edges oi said wall elements extending. downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall and cooperating with said wall elements to form inwardly open'pockets, fastening means attaching the lower edges of said wall members to the lower edges of said wall elements respectively and leaving said wall members and said wall elements unattached to the outer wall, tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall extending upwardly and concealing said fastening means and having their ends connectedwith said wall elements and thereby holding said tabs and wall elements in cooperative relation to form upwardly open pockets, and a flexible and pliable panel bridging the' space between and extending into said inwardly open pockets.

5. A blllfold comprising a unitary section ct" flexible and pliable material folded to provide an outer wall and inwardly extending wall elements in connection with the outer ends of said outer wall and downwardly extended wall members in connectionwith the upper edges of-said wall elements extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall and cooperating with said wall elements to form inwardly open pockets, fastening means attaching the ,lower edges of said wall members to the lower edges of said wall elements. respectively and leaving said wall members and said wall elements unattached to the outer wall, tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said. outer wall extending upwardly and concealing said fastening means and having their ends connected with said wall elements and thereby holding said tabs and said wall elements in a relation to cooperate to form upwardly open pockets, a flexible and pliable panel bridging the space between and extending into said inwardly open pockets, and a section of flexible and pliable material connecting at least one end of fsaid' panel with the outer end of the adjacent wall member.

6. A blllfold comprising a unitary section flexible and pliable material folded to provide outer wall and inwardly extendedwall elements in connection with the outer ends of said outer wall and downwardly extended wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall and cooperating with said wall elements to form inwardly open pockets, fastening means attaching the lower edges of said wall members to the lower edges of said wall elements respectively, tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall extending upwardly and concealing said fastening means and having their ends connected with said wall elements and thereby holding said tabs and wall elements in cooperative relation'to form upwardly open pockets, a flexible and pliable panel bridging thesp'ice between and extending into said inwardly open pockets and having its ends unattached to said wall elements and said outer wall, and sections of flexible and pliable material connecting the opposite ends of said panel with the outer ends of the adjacent wall members and being otherwise unattached to the billfold. 7. A blllfold comprising a unitary section 0 flexible and pliable material folded to provide an outer wall and inwardly extending wall elements in connection with the outer ends of said outer wall and wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extendingouter wall, tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall extending upwardly and concealing said fastening means and having their ends connected with said wall elements and thereby holding said tabs and wall elements in a relation to cooperate to form upwardly open pockets, a flexible and pliable panelbridging the space between and extending for sliding movements into one of said pockets. a flexible and pliable partition between said wall members and said outer wall, and means connecting the lower longitudinal edge of said partition with at least one of said wall members and leaving the outer ends of said partition unattached to the remaining portions of the billfold.

8. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an elongated outer wall, spaced wall elements in connection with the lower longitudinal and end edges of said outer wall, spaced wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall, a tab extending upwardly from said connection at the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall with one of said wall elements and having its inner and outer ends-attached to said wall element and cooperating therewith to form an upwardly open pocket, and a flexible and pliable panel bridging the space between said wall members and cooperating therewith and with said outer wall to form an elongated bill compartment.

9. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an elongated outer wall, spaced wall elements in connection with the lower longitudinal and end edges of said outer wall, spaced wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall, a tab extending upwardly from said connection at the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall with one of said wall elements and having its inner and outer ends attached to said wall element and cooperating therewith to form an upwardly open pocket, 9. flexible and pliable partition between said wall members and said outer wall, and a flexible and pliable panel bridging the space between said wall members and cooperating with said partition to form an elongated bill compartment.

10. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an elongated outer wall and to provide spaced wall elements in connection with the lower longitudinal and end edges of said outer wall, spaced wall members in connection with the upper edges of said elements respectively and extending downwardly between said elements and said outer wall and having their lower edges connected with the lower edges of said wall elements, said wall elements and said wall members cooperating to form spaced inwardly open pockets, a panel bridging the space between and extending into at least one of said pockets, and a tab extending upwardly from the connection of one of said wall elements with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall and having its inner and outer ends attached to said wall member, said tab cooperating with said wall member to form an upwardly open pocket.

11. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an elongated outer wall with spaced wall elements in connection with the lower longitudinal and end edges of said outer wall and to provide spaced wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extending downwardly between said elements and said outer wall and to provide upwardly extended tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall; fastening means uniting the lower longitudinal edges of said wall elements and said wall members and being unattached to said outer wall and said tab, said tab covering and concealing the greater portion of said fastening means, and means connecting the inner and outer ends of said tabs with the adjacent wall element and holding said tab and wall element in cooperative relation to form an upwardly open pocket.

12. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an outer wall and inwardly extended wall elements in connection with the outer ends of said outer wall and downwardly extended wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall and cooperating with said wall elements to form inwardly open .pockets, fastening means attaching the lower edges of said wall members to the lower edges of said wall elements respectively, tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall extending upwardly and concealing said fastening means and having their ends connected with said wall elements and thereby holding said tabs and wall elements in cooperative relation to form upwardly open pockets, and a flexible and pliable panel bridging the space between and extending into said inwardly open pockets and having its ends unattached to said wall elements and said outer wall and connected with at least one of said wall members.

13. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an outer wall and inwardly extending wall elements in connection with the outer ends of said outer wall and wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall and cooperating with said wall elements to form inwardly open pockets, fastening means uniting the lower longitudinal edges of said wall elements and said wall members, and tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall extending upwardly and attached to said wall members and thereby holding said wall members and said wall elements in cooperative relation to form said inwardly open pockets.

14. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an outer wall and inwardly extending wall elements in connection with the outer ends of said outer wall and wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall and cooperating with said wall elements to form inwardly open pockets, fastening means uniting the lower longitudinal edges of said wall elements and said wall members, tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall extending upwardly and attached to said wall members and thereby holding said wall members and said wall elements in cooperative relation to form said inwardly open pockets, and a flexible and pliable panel bridging the space between and extending for sliding movement into one of said pockets.

15. A bill fold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an outer wall and inwardly extending wall elements in connection with the outer ends of said outer wall and wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall and cooperating with said wall elements to form inwardly open pockets, fastening means uniting the lower longitudinal edges of said wall elements and said wall members, tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall extending upwardly and attached to said wall members and thereby holding said wall members and said wall elements in cooperative relation to form said inwardly open pockets, 2. flexible and pliable panel bridging the space between and extending for sliding movement into one of said pockets, and a partition between said wall elements and said outer wall.

16. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliable material folded to provide an outer wall and inwardly extending wall elements in connection with the outer ends of said outer wall and wall members in connection with the upper edges of said wall elements extending downwardly between said wall elements and said outer wall and cooperating with said wall elements to form inwardly open pockets, fastening means uniting the lower longitudinal edges of said well elements and said wall members, tabs in connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall extending upwardly and attached to said wall members and thereby holding said well members and said wall elements in cooperative relation to form said inwardly open pockets, a flexible and pliable panel bridging the space between and extending for sliding movement into one of said pockets, a partition between said wall elements and said outer wall, and means connecting a portion of the lower longitudinal edge of said partition to a wall of an adjacent inwardly open pocket.

PRINCE A. GARDNER, JR. 

